Cigar lighter



Dec. 1, 1931.-

J. H. COHEN CIGAR LIGHTER Filed April 22, 1929 INVENTOR. J2. 00 en,

A RNEY Patented Dec. 1, 1931 JOSEPH H. COHEN, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT CIGAR LIGHTER Application filed April 22,

This invention relates to electric cigar lighters, and more particularly, to the type having a holding device mounted on a suitable support, for instance the instrument board of a motor vehicle, and an igniting unit Which is supported on the holding device for quick removal'by hand when the heating element carried by the igniting unit has been brought to incandescence.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of the kind referred to, in which the heating element is brought to inca-ndescence under the control of a manually operable button carried by the igniting unit.

Another object is to provide means whereby the heating element carries the sole means for removably holding the igniting unit on the holding device.

And a further object is to provide an improved switch for electric cigar lighters.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. i

In the accompanying drawings which show one form of this invention, that at present preferred Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the igniting unit supported on the holding device and the latter mounted on a 0 suitable support.

Fig. 2 is a. transverse sectional v1ew taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 isa disassembled perspect ve view of the parts of which the igniting unit is constituted. U

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the cigar lighter of the present invention comprises a holding device 10 and a remov-' able igniting unit 11. The former has a hollow metal post or sleeve 12, preferably made integral with a screw threaded rod 13, which is adapted to be passed through a hole provided in an instrument board or other suitable support 14 so that when a nut 15 on the rod 13 is tightened, a flange 16 on the sleeve 12 is drawn tightly against the face of the 1 I 1-- strument board and the holding device 1s thus firmly clamped onto the instrument board. Within the sleeve 12 there is another sleeve or hollow post 17 which has soldered or 1929. Serial No. 357,029.

brazed to it the end of a wire 18 which passes through a central bore in the rod 13 and is connected to a source of E. M. F. The central sleeve 17 has a stem 17a which is wedged in an insulating sleeve 19, the latter being itself wedged in the central bore 13a of the rod 13 and is thus securely held in place.

The post 17 constitutes one terminal of a current supply circuit including the wire 18, while the outer post 12 being grounded on the 69 instrument board 14 constitutes the other terminal of the circuit.

The igniting unit comprises a body 20 having two parts 20a and 20?), one fitting within the other and provided with cooperating screw threads 21 for holding them together and clamping between them a heating element 22. r

The heating element 22 for the most part is identical with that disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No.-304.-,- 745, filed September 8, 1928; and comprises a coil of high resistance wire 23 supported on a metal disk 24, with the outer end of the coil in electrical contact with the disk and the inner end clamped in a slot in a central post 25. Electrically connected with the outer'end of the coil of wire 23 and the disk 24, and supported by the central post 25 but insulated from the latter, is a spider 26 of resilient material, the arms of which extend outward to above the periphery of the disk 24 and which are adapted to be placed under tension when the heating element 22 is dropped into the front end of thepart 20a of the body and the part 20?) is screwed tightly in place.

The post 25 itself, in the form of the invention herein shown, terminates in a screw threaded portion 27 close to the spider 26 and, according to the present invention," there is provided an extension 28 of the post 25 with a screw threaded portion to engage the screw threaded end 27 of the post 25 and firmly secure itself to the heating element 22 and the parts of the heating element together.

The extension pin or post 28 is shaped to fit within the hollow central post 17 of the holding device and forms electrical contact therewith when the removable igniting unit is slid will not accidentally slip therefrom, and yet so that the igniting unit may be removed from the holding device without a jerky motion, such as would be produced in case interlocking devices or detents were used to hold the igniting unit and holding device together, the present invention in the form herein illustrated provides the extension 28 of the post 25 of springy material and forms in the post a longitudinal slot 30 bifurcating the extension so that two separated sections or tines thereof may be normally biased outwardly whereby a slight compression thereof is necessary in order that the extension may be forced into the hollow inner sleeve 17 of the holding device. When in the sleeve 17, the surfaces of the tines of the extension pressing outwardly against the internal surface of the sleeve 17 securely hold the igniting unit in operative position on the holding device.

In practice, the central bore 29 of the part 20a of the igniting unit may be made to slipfit the sleeve 12 and thus ass st in supporting the igniting unit on the holding device. However, it is not essential that these two parts he made to fit at all, so long as the bore 29 is large enough to permit the placing of the sleeve 12 into it, for the cooperation between the extension 28 and the central sleeve 17 is sufficient for the purpose.

From the construction thus far described, it is evident that current flowing through the wire 18 may be transmitted along the inner sleeve 17 to the extension 28 and from that to the post 25 and coil of resistance wire 23 of the heating element 22, and from. the outer end of the coil to the disk 23 and spider 26. Here, however, there is a gap in the circuit since the body 20 of the igniting unit with which the disk 24 engages, and with which the outer or grounded sleeve 12 may contact at the bored portion 29 of the body, is of insulating material, and hence current does not normally flow through the heating element when the igniting unit is supported on the holding device.

To close the gap in the circuit so that current may flow through the heating element 22 to cause the latter to become incandescent, the present invention provides an improved switch device, comprising a manually operable button 31 slidably mounted in a hole 32 in the part 20a of the body of the igniting unit. The inner end of the button 31 is provided with a head 33. This is adapted to engage the end of a leaf spring 34 whose other end has a hole 35 pierced therein and adapted to receive a pin 36 on a ring 37 having an aperture 38 through which the button 31 extends.

The ring 37 with the spring 34 mounted therein fits within a counterbored portion 39 in the port 20a of the body so that the inner edge 40 of the ring engages a shoulder portion 41 of the part 20a, and so that the outer edge 42 projects beyond the shoulder 43 in the part 20a at the end of the screw threads 21. This rojecting edge 42 is adapted to be engaged by the arms of the spider 26 when the heating element is assembled in the ignit ng unit and is clamped in place by the part 200 which pre$es the disk 24 inwardly and the arms of the spider 26 to bow slightly due to the ends thereof being in engagement with the edge 42 of the ring 37.

Thus, the spring 34 through its connection with the ring and the latters engagement with the spider arms, is brought into electrical engagement, and completes the electrical circuit from, the outer end of the coil 23 of resistance wire.

After the igniting unit is placed on the holding device so that the inner end 44 of the part 20a of the body engages the flange 16 on the outer sleeve 12, the end of the spring 34 is located directly above the end portion of the outer sleeve 12. When the igniting unit is thus su ported, and the button 31 is pressed inwar y, the end of the spring 34 is moved into engagement with the outer. sleeve ;12t0 close the circuit through the heating eleplied by the user to the end of a cigar or cigarette to ignite the same.

Should the user subconsciously maintain the button depressed, even when replacing the same on the holding device, the latter operation may be performed without danger of damaging the spring 34 because the end of the grounded sleeve 12 is provided with a taper or bevel 45 which earns the end of the spring 34 and the button upwardly when the igniting unit is being replaced on the holding device.

In order to keep the ring 37 from turning within the counterbored portion 39, the rin is provided with a rib 46 entering a roove 4% provided in the part 20a of the b0 y. This arrangement avoids any tendency for the ring to creep or be displaced from its proper position so that the sides of the notch 38 might interfere with the free operation of' type of electric cigar lighter. in which the removable igniting unit is held on the holding device solely by frictional cooperation between the heating element and the holding device, and that the circuit through the heating element of said igniting unit is closed by moving the switch blade or spring 34 directly into contact with the outer sleeve 12 of the holding device, and that, consequently, although the switch blade is mounted on tho igniting unit the contact terminal of the switch is constituted by the sleeve of the holding device.

In assembling the igniting unit of the devicedisclosed and above described, button 31 is inserted through the open front end of the part 20a, and is placed in the hole or aperture 32 in which it is guided for operatin movement. The spring 34 is then placed within the ring 37 so that the aperture 35 in the spring lies over the pin 36 in the ring, and

the end 34 of the spring is located beneath the aperture or notch 37 in the ring. The ring is then slid into the counterbored portion 39, the notched end foremost, and with the rib 46 on the ring or collar 37 aligned with the groove 47 in the art 20a of the body, the notch 38 being wi c enough to clear the head 33 of the button.

Then the assembled heating element with the slit extension 28 of the post 25 thereof isv dropped into the open end of the part 20a so that the arms of the spider 26 lie on the end 42 of the ring 37. And finally the part 206 is screwed in place to force the disk 24 of the heating element inwardly and place the spider under tension.

The igniting unit is then completely assembled and ready to be placed on the holding device. It will be noted that the igniting unit is assembled from the front and that each of the parts falls intoplace without any pains being taken to adjust them.

' This is a particularly important feature, for sometimes the resistance wire burns out and the replacement of the heating element is required to be performed by the user who frequently has no aptitude or skill for such things. 0 do this it is merely necessary for the user to unscrew the part 20?) of the igniting unit and lift the heating element out en bloc without disturbing any part of the switch, place the new heating element in the cavity and screw the part 20bback in place.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the switch and the heating element may be assembled in the bodyor housing 20 of the igniting unit by being passed through the open front end of the body after the part 206 thereof has been removed or before it is applied to the body. It will also be seen that since the button 30 projects from the side of the igniting unit thereis very little danger of the circuit being closed and the heating element being brought to incandescence ac- Having now described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent, is

1. A cigar-lighter comprising a stationary member and a removable member detachably mounted thereon, said stationary member having a grounded sleeve and a central terminal supported in but insulated from said sleeve; said removable member comprising a housing with a recess at its front, a heater coil supported in said housing and having a central contact adapted to yieldingly engage said central terminal, and a switch mounted in said housing including a collar connected to the outer end of said coil and a push button operated contact member electrically connected to said collar.

2. A cigar-lighter comprising a stationary member and a removable unit detachably mounted thereon, said stationary member having a stationary sleeve and a center terminal supported in but insulated from the sleeve; said removable unit comprising a housing, a heater coil supported in said housing andhaving a center contact adapted to yieldingly engage said center terminal, and t:

a switch mounted in saidhousing including a collar connected to the outer end of said coil and a contact member movably mounted on said collar.

3. A cigar-lighter comprising a stationary member and a removable igniter unit detachably mounted thereon, said stationary member having a sleeve and a central terminal supported in but insulated from said sleeve;

said removable unit including a housing, a

heater coil supported in said housing and having a center contact adapted to engage said central terminal, a collar connected to the outer end of said coil, and a ring having a screw-threaded connection with said hous- 7.

ing and clampingthe parts of the igniter unit together.

4. A cigar-lighter comprising a stationary ,gage said central terminal, and a switch mounted in said housing and havinga collar connected to the outer end of said coil.

5. A cigar-lighter unit comprising a housing of two insulating parts having a screwdevice, a sleeve threaded connection and having a chamber formed between them, a disk mounted in the front of said chamber, a heater coil carried by said disk, a center contact stud connected to one endv of-said coil, a collar in said chamber connected to the other end of said coil, a spring switch member having one end connected to said collar, and a push button connected to the movable end of said switch member. v

6. A cigar-lighter comprising a holding rojecting forwardly from the front of said holding device, a center contact terminal inside said sleeve but insulated therefrom, and a removable igniting unit comprising a housing, a lighter member and a switch in said housing. said lighter member having a contact terminal slidably engaging said center contact.

7. A ci ar-li'ghter comprising a holding device an a removable igniting unit detachably mounted thereon, said holdin de vice having a projecting sleeve termina and a central terminal supported in but insulated from the sleeve; said removable unit comprising an insulating housing, an igniter unit detachably mounted in said housing and having a center contact stud at the rear adapted to yieldingly engage. said central terminal, and a switch blade mounted in said housing adapted to enga e said sleeve terminal when operated while 51c igniter unit is supported on the holding device.

8. An electric cigar-lighter comprising a holding device; an igniting unit mounted on said holding devicefor quick removal and replacement and including a body and a heating element removably mounted in said body: and cooperating means on said heating element and on said holding device for resiliently engaging each other to hold said igniting unit on said holding-device against accidental displacement.

9. An electric cigar-lighter comprisina holdingdevice; an lgniting unit mounte on said holding device for quick removal and replacement, and including a body and a heating element mountedin said body; and means mounted on said heating element independ-' ently of said body and means on saidho ding device for coo ratively and resiliently engaging each ot er to hold said igniti unit on said holding device against acci ental displacement. 10. An electric cigar-lighter comprising a holding device; an igniting unit mounted on said holding device fo'r quick removal and replacement and including a body and a heat- V i element removably mounted in said body an carrying a contact member; and a cooperating contact member on the holding device, said contact member on the heating element and contact member on the holding device nesilientl engagin each other to make contact tween themand to hold said igniting unit on said holding device against accidental removal.

11. An electric cigar-lighter comprising a holdin device and an igniting unit mounted on sai holding device for quick removal and replacement and having a body and a heating element in said body carrying a contact memher; and a cooperating contact member on the holding device, said contact member on the heating element being slit and normally based to resiliently engage the contact member on holding device to hold said igniting unit on said holding device against accidental removal.

12. In an electrical device of the class described, a holding device having two terminals; and a translating unit mounted on the holding device for quick removal and replacement and in single-pole electrical engagement with the holding device when not translating current, said translating unit having means including a manually operable button for bringing the translating unit. into two-pole electrical engagement with the holding device so as to cause current to flow from one of the terminals on the holding device through the translating unit to the other terminal on the ment in opencircuitirelation to the holding device when not being brought to incandescence, said ignitin unit having a body for supporting said heating element and switch means for closing the circuit between the holding device and the heating element and including a button projecting throu h the side of said body to a position accessi le for manual operation.

14. In an electrical device of the class described, a holding device having two terminals one of which constitutes a ground; and a translating unit mounted on the holding device forquick removal and replacement and including a heating element having a contact in enga ment with the ungrounded terminal of the olding device when not translating current, and a manually operable contact connected to the heating element for connectin the heating element to the grounded termmal of the holding device when said manuallyoperable contact is operated.

15. In an electric cigar-liighter, an igniting unit adapted to be mounte on a holding de vice for quick removal and replacement and comprising a body having a cavity 0 n at its front end, a heating element adapts to be III vice for quick removal and replacement and comfprising a body having a cavity open at its ront end, a switch device adapted to be placed in said cavity through said 11 end and aheating element ada ted to be inserted in said cavity through sai open end and engage a switch device therein and a ring screwthreaded on said body for closing said cavity and holding the switch device and heating element therein.

Si ned at Bridgeport, in the county of Fair eld and State of, Connecticut, this 19 day of April, 1929. I

JOSEPH H. COHEN. 

